Own fans kick photographers
“Disturbing”: Schalke reacts to incident in Dublin
October 12, 2025 – 7:44 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
An incident in Dublin shakes FC Schalke. Those affected describe their experiences. The club itself responded to the action with a statement.
It was actually supposed to be a special trip: around 2,000 fans accompanied second division club Schalke 04 to the friendly match in Dublin on Saturday. However, an incident occurred before the game that is now causing discussions far beyond the game.
What had happened? During a fan march through the Irish capital before the game against the first division club Bohemians (2:3), a woman photographs the Schalke supporters and is then approached by them. This is shown by video recordings circulating on the internet. A man who tries to help her is pushed to the ground and kicked. Both those affected have filed a complaint.
According to “Bild”, the attackers are said to be the photographer Carly Clarke and her long-time colleague Stephen Lovell-Davis. The 39-year-old described her perspective afterwards: “When Stephen was lying on the floor, he was kicked repeatedly. I was scared and panicked and was very worried about my friend.”
A group of passers-by tried to help the two photographers. But it wasn’t that easy, Clarke reported. “If the ultras had simply told me not to take photos, it wouldn’t have been a problem. I’ve never seen anything like that happen before.”
The behavior of the Schalke fans “shocked” them, said Clarke. “If you don’t want me to take pictures, that’s fine. What they did to Stephen is terrible.” At least: According to the report, Lovel-Davis did not have to go to the hospital.
FC Schalke also reported the incident. The club reacted with sharp words. A statement on Sunday said: “The images seen on social media are disturbing and difficult to endure. We condemn these incidents in the strongest possible terms.”
The incidents “cannot be relativized in any way,” it said. They would overshadow the trip so much that the club now feels compelled to “express itself clearly”. The incidents will be “extensively processed” and “appropriate consequences will be drawn”.
The trip to Dublin was intended to be reminiscent of earlier European Cup times. Another game abroad is already planned in four weeks under the motto “Schalke international” – on November 13th at FC Twente Enschede.
In the message, the club addressed its own supporters: “FC Schalke 04 expects all people who accompany and support the club to behave respectfully and responsibly. Incidents of this kind put the entire club and our community in a light that does neither justice to S04 nor to the thousands of peaceful Schalke players.” The “Royal Blues” wished the victims of the fan attack a full recovery.